January 17, 2007
First three days of life key to reducing piglet mortality
Sixty percent of piglet mortality occurs in the first three days of life, and producers can reduce these deaths by focusing on improving conditions for newborn pigs during that period, according to a Minnesota swine veterinary clinic.
Paul Yeske, DVM, Swine Vet Centre has drawn that conclusion based on visits to clients farms. Yeske is currently aiding several large farms in a monitoring program to reduce losses.
Farms sometimes forget that improving piglet survival is among the most basic of tasks and provides a very high return, he said.
Making sure the pigs get started right, is what controlling preweaning mortality is all about, Yeske said.
Farms are having difficulty maintaining a high born-alive survival rate as sows now have larger litters.
Yeske said if a preweaning mortality rate of 4-5 percent for the first three days is achieved, the farm should be able to hold preweaning mortality to 9-10 percent when weaning at 20-21 days of age.
The mortality rates are recorded on farrowing cards kept with the sow and later transferred to PigChamp records. The process helps farms set goals and routinely track performance.
The cards also gives staff a good idea of health conditions. For example, if newborns are surviving, but pigs are being lost later in lactation, health intervention steps can be taken.
The pork industry has averaged 8-15 percent preweaning mortality for many years, and Yeske agrees those figures are common to his practice area.
Yeske says basic pigmanship is critical.
The top priority is to make sure that the piglets stay warm, do not get chilled; have a good environment, including a good, warm mat; and that all of the piglets get started suckling as soon as possible, he said.
The faster the pigs get colostrum and established suckling, the better off they would be, he said.
Commercial aids such as quick dry agents, split suckling devices and farrowing mats are available to ensure higher survival rates, he said.
